Map Position 6. The attack on the Atif house.

 

The Atif Zuhady house is below the Abu Hani-Abu Mahar yard, and stands empty, though it is a large, well-built house with a beautiful yard surrounded by the only cedars in the village. I had heard early on that the family is afraid to move back. Now I understand why.

 

I have not pinned down the date of this attack, but it was one of the lead-ups to the evacuation of the village. Atif’s wife was home alone. Armed settlers appeared at the locked door and demanded to be let in. She fled to the roof and barricaded herself there. (The village houses all have access to the flat roofs). The settlers broke down the entrance door, and then proceeded to trash the house. They broke all glass, windows, mirrors, dishes, throughout the house. Next they dumped all food they could find on the floor: wheat and wheat flour, rice, spices, sugar, and poured all the olive oil over the food. The settlers then left, saying if the family did not leave they would come back and kill them.

 

Abu Hani’s daughter-in-law, Fida’a, who speaks English (learned from high school classes), told me about the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) before the internationals took up residence. Every Saturday they could expect the armed settlers to invade the village. Women and children stayed indoors. Settlers would bang and doors and shout, “Leave or we’ll kill you.” They seemed to have a special grudge against Sameh. On one occasion they arrived at the Abu Hani house and ordered the family out, except for Samieh, who they beat inside the house, and told him they would return to kill him.